Two Israeli embassy workers shot dead near Jewish Museum in Washington DC

Two staff members of the Israeli embassy have been shot and killed while leaving an event at the Jewish museum in Washington, DC.

The two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when a 30-year-old suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.

Ms Smith said the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security.

When he was taken into custody, the man began chanting, ‘free, free Palestine,’ Ms Smith said.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene with former judge Jeanine Pirro, who serves as the US attorney in Washington.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting a ‘depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism’.

‘We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act,’ Mr Danon said in a post on X.

‘Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives everywhere in the world.’

President Donald Trump described the incident as ‘based obviously on antisemitism’.

He wrote in a post on his Truth Social page: ‘These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.

‘Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!’

The city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, has said there is no active threat to the community and they would ‘not tolerate this violence or hate in our city.’

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